Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

Copyright

About the Author

Dedication

Advisors and Reviewers

Planning reviewers

Preface

Critical thinking: an international health care imperative

What’s new to this edition

What’s the same about this edition

How to use this book

Who should read this book?

Patients, clients, consumers, stakeholders, "he/she"

Tell us what you think

Acknowledgments

1: What Are Critical Thinking, Clinical Reasoning, and Clinical Judgment?

Key concepts

Critical thinking: behind every healed patient

Critical thinking: not simply being critical

Rewards of learning to think critically

How this book helps you improve thinking

Describing critical thinking

Problem-focused versus outcome-focused thinking

What about common sense?

What do critical thinkers look like?

Critical thinking indicators

What’s familiar and what’s new?

4-Circle ct model: get the picture?

Thinking ahead, thinking-in-action, and thinking back

Putting it all together

Critical thinking exercises

Think, pair, share

Critical moments

Other perspectives

Key points/summary

2: Developing Critical Thinking

Key concepts

Developing critical thinking

Five key steps

How your personality affects thinking

Connecting with your learning style

Self-efficacy: believe in yourself

Effects of birth order, upbringing, and culture

Male versus female tendencies

Emotional intelligence

Communicating effectively

Communication strategies

Building relationships

Preceptors, mentors, and empowered partnerships

Factors influencing critical thinking ability

Critical thinking exercises 2.1

Think, Pair, Share

Focusing on outcomes (Results)

Critical thinking strategies

Knowledge and intellectual skills

Evaluating critical thinking: best practices

Critical thinking exercises 2.2

Think, Pair, Share

Critical moments

Other perspectives

Key points/summary

3: Critical Thinking and Learning Cultures: Teaching, Learning, and Taking Tests

Key concepts

Learning cultures: everyone teaches, everyone learns

Teaching yourself: grab the spoon

Accessing, analyzing, and applying information

Learning, unlearning, and relearning

Making the most of clinical learning

Teaching others: promoting independence

Improving grades and passing tests the first time

NCLEX® facts and strategies

Critical thinking exercises

Think, pair, share

Critical moments

Other perspectives

Key points/summary

4: Clinical Reasoning and Clinical Judgment

Key concepts

Nurses: the glue and conscience of health care

Goals and outcomes of nursing

Critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgment

Critical thinking indicators and the 4-circle model

Novice versus expert thinking

Paying attention to context

Trends affecting thinking

Predict, prevent, manage, promote

Outcome-focused, evidence-based care

Critical thinking exercises 4.1

Think, pair, share

Critical moments

Other perspectives

Nursing process: the heart of clinical reasoning

Expanded roles: greater accountability

Unique nursing role

Nursing surveillance: monitoring closely

Developing clinical judgment

Ten strategies for developing clinical judgment

Charting that shows critical thinking

Critical thinking exercises 4.2

Think, pair, share

Critical moments

Other perspectives

Key points/summary

5: Ethical Reasoning, Evidence-Based Practice, and Quality Improvement

Key concepts

A new era

Moral and ethical reasoning

Critical thinking exercises 5.1

Think, pair, share

Other perspectives

Evidence-Based practice and quality improvement

Research and quality improvement: all nurses play a part

Quality improvement

Critical thinking exercises 5.2

Think, pair, share

Critical moments

Other perspectives

Key points/summary

6: Practicing Clinical Reasoning Skills: Applying the Nursing Process

Key concepts

Clinical reasoning skills: dynamic and interrelated

Why practice these skills separately?

How to get the most out of this chapter

Required vocabulary

Skill 6.1 Identifying Assumptions

Other perspectives

Clinical reasoning exercises: identifying assumptions

Skill 6.2 Assessing Systematically and Comprehensively

Clinical reasoning exercises: assessing systematically and comprehensively

Skill 6.3 Checking Accuracy and Reliability (Validating Data)

Clinical reasoning exercises: checking accuracy and reliability (validating data)

Skill 6.4 Distinguishing Normal From Abnormal/Identifying Signs and Symptoms

Clinical reasoning exercises: distinguishing normal from abnormal/identifying signs and symptoms

Skill 6.5 Making Inferences (Drawing Valid Conclusions)

Clinical reasoning exercises: making inferences (drawing valid conclusions)

Skill 6.6 Clustering Related Cues (Data)

Clinical reasoning exercises: clustering related cues (data)

Skill 6.7 Distinguishing Relevant From Irrelevant

Clinical reasoning exercises: distinguishing relevant from irrelevant

Skill 6.8 Recognizing Inconsistencies

Clinical reasoning exercises: recognizing inconsistencies

Skill 6.9 Identifying Patterns

Clinical reasoning exercises: identifying patterns

Skill 6.10 Identifying Missing Information

Clinical reasoning exercises: identifying missing information

Skill 6.11 Promoting Health by Identifying and Managing Risk Factors

Clinical reasoning exercises: promoting health by identifying and managing risk factors

Skill 6.12 Diagnosing Actual and Potential Problems

Critical Moments

Clinical reasoning exercises: diagnosing actual and potential problems

Skill 6.13 Setting Priorities

Clinical reasoning exercises: setting priorities

Skill 6.14 Determining Patient-Centered (Client-Centered) Outcomes

Clinical reasoning exercises: determining patient-centered (client-centered) outcomes

Skill 6.15 Determining Individualized Interventions

Clinical reasoning exercises: determining individualized interventions

Skill 6.16 Evaluating and Correcting Thinking (Self-Regulating)

Skill 6.17 Determining a Comprehensive Plan/Evaluating and Updating the Plan

Clinical reasoning exercises: determining a comprehensive plan/evaluating and updating the plan

7: Interpersonal, Teamwork, and Self-Management Skills

Key concepts

How to use this chapter

How the skills are organized

Skill 7.1 Communicating Bad News

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.2 Dealing with Complaints Constructively

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.3 Developing Empowered Partnerships

Critical Moments

Other Perspectives

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.4 Giving and Taking Constructive Criticism

Other Perspectives

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.5 Managing Conflict Constructively

Other Perspectives

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.6 Managing Your Time

Critical Moments

Other Perspectives

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.7 Navigating and Facilitating Change

Critical Moments

Other Perspectives

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.8 Preventing and Dealing With Mistakes Constructively

Critical Moments

Other Perspectives

Critical thinking exercises

Skill 7.9 Transforming a Group Into a Team

Other Perspectives

Critical thinking exercises

Appendix A: Response Key for Exercises in Chapters 1 to 6

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Appendix B: Concept Mapping: Getting in the “Right” State of Mind

What is concept mapping?

When do you use mapping?

What are the benefits?

How does it promote critical thinking?

Steps for mapping to promote critical thinking

Appendix C: Results of Two Studies Describing Critical Thinking Skills

Appendix D: Key Brain Parts Involved in Thinking

Appendix E: Example Patients’ Rights and Responsibilities

Appendix F: NCLEX® Practice Questions

Answers to NCLEX® practice questions

Glossary

Index